One thing you can count on with the Detroit Lions is that they are never, ever boring. Follow the latest news including injuries, roster moves and more here daily from Oakland Press beat writer Paula Pasche. Plus you'll find regular commentary about the team.

11/13/2013

Hoop dreams: Lions' Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley can dunk, but do they have game?

The Lions defensive tackles have talked some trash about their games, but still haven’t thrashed it out on the hardwood.

If Suh was taller, he might be wreaking havoc in the NBA instead of the NFL.

“If I was 6-7 I don’t know if I’d be playing football right now,’’ said Suh who is 6-4.

Suh professed his love for basketball after Wednesday’s practice. He played it in high school even though it was football that would get him to college and then the NFL.

“My game, if I’m going to pick an NBA player that I patterned after I’d say Charles (Barkley) and a little bit of Karl (Malone),’’ Suh said. “I mean, I’ve always — even the way I look at football I’ve always been a combination of people.’’

Can he dunk?

“Yeah, I can still dunk. No question. You want to go play?’’ Suh said, challenging a reporter.

Fairley, who is also 6-foot-4, played high school basketball averaging 20 points and 15 rebounds per game.

“Anybody in this locker room, whoever wants it come get it,’’ he said, challenging everyone.

Asked if Suh could dunk, Fairley said, “Yeah, he can. I don’t know about his game. Everybody, if you got hops you can dunk. I don’t know how his basketball outside of that is.’’

Reggie Bush sees Suh as a scary presence on the basketball court.

“With Suh, he’s an athlete,’’ Bush said. “That’s the scary thing about him is that a guy that big can be as fast as he is and strong as he is. I’m sure he can dunk and do it all.”

Bush, for one would not want to take on a challenge from the big guys.

He got a chance for a quick word with Spartan alum Magic Johnson who grew up in Lansing and is a big Lions’ fan.

“He’s a really good man. I look forward to having him out to a game and let alone have an opportunity to sit down with him,’’ Suh said. “What he’s done with his career obviously after basketball is, to me, very admiring.’’

About Me

Paula Pasche, a veteran sports writer, covers the Lions for The Oakland Press. She has written a book, "100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" which is available at bookstores and on Amazon.com. She won first place for column writing from the Society of Professional Journalists in Detroit (Class B) in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and was The Oakland Press 2010 Staffer of the Year.